PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Whisper Welker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daiki Tanimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Welker
vs
Tanimoto

185 cm
26
190 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

171 cm
23
192 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Modern Wear Apparel
Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Whisper Welker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daiki Tanimoto!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanimoto misses with a head kick.
Welker is looking to counter punch.
Welker does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Welker misses with a body kick.
Welker throws an overhand right that lands on Tanimoto's shoulder, as Tanimoto tries to avoid the shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Tanimoto misses.
Welker clobbers Tanimoto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Welker bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tanimoto's head backwards.
Welker has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Welker gets a clinch.
Tanimoto goes for a takedown attempt but Welker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Welker misses with a leg kick
and Tanimoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Welker clinches.
A short uppercut from Welker.
Tanimoto looking for a takedown.
A short body shot lands from Welker as the two fighters clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tanimoto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Welker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Whisper Welker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daiki Tanimoto.
A hook to the body from Welker.
A right hand to the body from Welker.
Welker lands a shoulder strike.
Tanimoto is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tanimoto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Welker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Welker with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Welker pushes Tanimoto away with a front kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Tanimoto has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Tanimoto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Welker.
Tanimoto wants to clinch.
Welker throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tanimoto swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Welker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Welker cracks Tanimoto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tanimoto misses with an uppercut.
Tanimoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Welker.
Nice uppercut there from Welker.
Welker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tanimoto's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tanimoto misses with a head kick.
Welker thinks about countering with a body kick.
Welker is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tanimoto misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Tanimoto.
Tanimoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Welker moves out of range of the body kick from Tanimoto.
Tanimoto throws the kick towards the body but Welker avoids it.
Tanimoto avoids the head kick by Welker.
Tanimoto tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tanimoto defending well as Welker loads up on a big left hand.
Welker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tanimoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Welker.
Welker misses with a looping left.
Welker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tanimoto slips under a jab.
Tanimoto replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Welker blocks it well.
Tanimoto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Welker throws a body kick that misses.
Tanimoto pivots, looking for a leg kick but Welker is out of range and Tanimoto settles back down.
Tanimoto blocks the body kick.
Tanimoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Welker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tanimoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welker connects with a solid leg kick.
Tanimoto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tanimoto moves away from the strike by Welker.
Tanimoto throws a sloppy head kick and Welker moves out of range easily.
Tanimoto scores with a leg kick.
Welker is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Tanimoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Welker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Welker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Welker lands with a kick to the ribs.
A head kick misses from Tanimoto.
Welker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tanimoto throws a head kick that misses
and Welker counters with a nice body kick.
Tanimoto slips a jab from Welker.
Tanimoto throws a wild body kick that Welker sees coming a mile off.
Welker scores with a spinning back kick!

Welker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welker gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tanimoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Welker.
Tanimoto wants to take the fight to the mat but Welker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Welker.
Tanimoto wants a takedown but no success here.
Welker works on Tanimoto's body with a couple of short punches.
Tanimoto looks winded!
Tanimoto takes a shot to the head.
Welker lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Welker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Welker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tanimoto.
A short left from Welker.
Tanimoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Welker lands a hook that snaps the head of Tanimoto backwards.
Welker lands a body shot.
Tanimoto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Welker just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Welker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tanimotos head.
Welker lands with a right to the head.
Welker is working Tanimoto over against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Welker.

Welker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whisper Welker dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Welker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tanimoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Welker throws a head kick but Tanimoto moves out of range.
Jab from Welker.
Tanimoto throws a head kick but Welker moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Welker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Welker is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Welker is looking to score with low kicks.
Welker keeps the fight on the outside.
Welker lands a jab to Tanimoto's midsection.
Tanimoto lands a head kick. Welker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Welker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Welker scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Welker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Welker on the inside.
Welker works on Tanimoto's body with a couple of short punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Welker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Welker stalling the fight.
Welker lands with a light punch inside.
Welker lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Tanimoto is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welker lands a right hand.
Tanimoto is still on wobbly legs! Can Welker finish him?
Nice body punch from Welker.
Tanimoto is trying to drag Welker to the mat but Welker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tanimoto is breathing heavily.
Welker prevents the takedown attempt.
Tanimoto seems to have recovered his senses.
Welker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Welker tries to throw a body punch but Tanimoto avoids it by throwing Welker back against the cage.
Tanimoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Welker lands a body punch.
Welker prevents a takedown attempt there.
Whisper Welker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daiki Tanimoto.
Welker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tanimoto backwards.
Welker lands with a short shot to the head.
Tanimoto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Welker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tanimoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Welker prevents it.
Tanimoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welker digs a right hand into Tanimoto's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tanimoto's gas tank.
Tanimoto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Welker is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tanimoto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Welker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Welker lands with a left to the head.
Welker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right from Welker on the inside.
Welker lands a left hand.
Welker scores with a shot to the side of Tanimoto's head.
Whisper Welker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short left from Welker.
Welker lands with a left to the head.
Welker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tanimoto takes a shot to the head.
Welker lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tanimoto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Welker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Welker lands with a shot to the body.
Tanimoto misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanimoto avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tanimoto throws a head kick but Welker moves out of range.
Welker looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Welker pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tanimoto is trying to counter with his kicks.
Welker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Welker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tanimoto. That did some damage!
Welker works Tanimoto's body with a nice hook.
Tanimoto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Welker tries to clinch but Tanimoto moves out of range.
Welker lands a right hook to the body.
Welker cracks Tanimoto with a good jab.
Welker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice sprawl there from Welker as Tanimoto shoots in.
Tanimoto throws a half hearted mid kick.

Welker clinches up with Tanimoto and pushes him back against the cage.
Welker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Welker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Welker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welker lands a hook to the side of the head.

Welker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tanimoto - that will leave a mark!
Welker feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tanimotos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Welker lands the left hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Welker.
Tanimoto throws a head kick but Welker moves out of range.
Welker steps in with a hook that catches Tanimoto right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Welker follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Tanimoto looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Whisper Welker!
A very excited looking Whisper Welker made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Daiki Tanimoto was interviewed post fight and said 'Proudly Supported by Team Goroshi - RVCA - Kore Fight Nutrition - Jef Li's MMA - Silent Fighting Championship'.